A partnership that strengthens relations between Croatia and Germany and actively contributes to European security

Rheinmetall AG, a leading European technology and defense company, and the Croatian DOK-ING presented a joint company, which opens the opportunity for a long-term strategic industrial partnership between Rheinmetall and the Republic of Croatia, and the Prime Minister emphasized that this partnership is a strengthening of the overall mosaic of relations between Croatia and Germany.

This is an important European partnership, he added, in the changed global security context, which is within the framework of the ambitions of NATO and European Union member states to increase investment in defense capabilities.

The RUV company, he emphasized, is a strong confirmation that Croatia is not only a user of advanced technologies, but also a country that participates in their creation and development.

"We want to build a Croatia that develops and exports the most advanced technologies and actively contributes to European security," he said, adding that this cooperation confirms that we are becoming a place for the development of innovations and industrial capacities that play an important role in European security, but also competitiveness and the creation of new quality jobs.

European security today is built through joint development, production and innovation

Emphasizing that we live in a time of great changes in the security field, he said that the Russian aggression against Ukraine, in addition to being brutal, long-lasting and completely illegal, has shown how security, resilience and technological superiority are key prerequisites for stability and peace.

Therefore, at the European level, we are strengthening our own defense capabilities and industrial bases in order to be able to more effectively protect our interests and our own security, he said, emphasizing that European security today is increasingly being built through joint development of technologies, joint production and joint innovation. This partnership is also moving in that direction, he added.

In this process, the defense industry has a special place and cannot be viewed separately from strengthening competitiveness.

In this context, Prime Minister Plenković recalled that Croatia has significantly increased its defense spending in recent years, which has now reached almost 2.1 percent of GDP. In this way, he added, it contributes to transatlantic, European and, above all, its own security.
 
He announced further investments and the use of European funds through the SAFE Instrument and the European Security Fund.

Notable export results of the Croatian defense sector

Speaking about the Croatian defense sector, he stated that it today brings together 200 companies, employs around 3,000 people and achieves very notable export results.

In this context, he highlighted the successes of the DOK-ING company, which started in the Homeland War and particularly proved itself in the production of unmanned demining machines.

And this new cooperation, he added, represents a special investment in the fact that this company, within the framework of a partnership with Rheinmetall, significantly increases its production with new platforms that will also be unmanned and supply numerous European and other armies.

In addition, this cooperation makes a huge contribution to the overall economic exchange between Croatia and Germany.